Ripping device.



G.E;POST. RIPPING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED N0v.7,190&

Patented Oct. 12, 1909.

@MLM/mp; gmwnst, J( Mtv/V. BY

ATTORNEYS GEORGE E. POST, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RIPPING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1909.

Application led November 7, 1908. Serial No. 461,470.

To all who/m, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. Pos'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful VImprovements in Ripping Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention relates, generally, to improvements in ripping devices; and, the present invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of device adapted to be used for ripping open seams of sewed cloth or other material.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a novel, simple and durable ripping device which comprises a handle-portion and an interchangeable cutting-blade, which may be easily and quickly placed in position and connected with said handle-portion, and rigidly held in its operative relation therewith; and, furthermore, to provide means for removing the worn or dulled blade, so that it can bel replaced by a new cutting-blade.

The invention has for its further object to provide a novel and efficient means for holding said vremovable cutting-blade rigidly in its operative relation with the handle-portion.

Further objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly set forth, will be apparent from the following detailed description of the said invention.

The invention consists, primarily, in the novel ripping device or implement hereinafter more particularly set forth; and, furthermore, this invention consists yin the novel arrangements and combinations of the devices and parts, as well as in the various details of the construction of the same, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claims which are appended to and which form an essential part of this specilication.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of the handlemember of the ripping device, with the novel cutting-blade locked in its operative relation therewith. Fig. 2 is a top-edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the said handle-member operated to release from operative engagement therewith the said cutting-blade. Fig. t is a vertical cross-section, taken on line r-t in said Fig. l, and looking in the direction of the arrow a, said section being drawn on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross-section taken on line 5-5 in said Fig. l, and looking in a downward drection, also drawn on an enlarged scale. Fig. 6 is a side view of the cutting-blade removed from the handle-portion, and illustrating more particularly the locking or holding ribs connected therewith. Fig. 7 is an inner face view of one of the jaw-members of said handle-portion, and illustrating more particularly the receiving recesses or grooves for securing the locking or holding ribs of said cutting-blade.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the reference-character l indicates a complete rippingdevice embodying the principles of the present invention, the same comprising a handle-portion 2, preferably formed of a strip of metal doubled upon itself to form a gripping-loop or handle 3. The said handle-portion is further provided with a pair of spring-arms l and 5, each of said arms 4L and 5 respectively terminating in oppositely placed or grasping members (3 and 7. Slidably arranged upon said springarms a and 5 is a binding-ferrule or runner 8. One of the said jaw-members, as 6, is provided with a 'smooth surface upon its inner side, whereas the other jaw is provided upon its inner side with a longitudinally eX- tending groove or channel 9, intersected by a transverse groove or channel 10, preferably extending at right angles to said groove or channel 9.

The reference-character 11 indicates the main body-portion of a cutting-blade, and the same is provided at its upper and outer end with a knife-edge 12 adapted to be used to cut the threads of a seam joining two pieces of cloth or other material, so as to form a suitable opening in which to insert and operate the seam-ripper in the manner to be presently more fully described. rlhe outer end of the said main body-portion is further provided beneath said knife-edge 12 with a longitudinally extending` cutaway portion 13, which forms upon the lower outer end of said main body-portion 11, a guide-member 1st. Located at the inner end of said cutaway portion 13 is a ripping blade 15 preferably provided with a concave cutting edge 16, substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings. The inner end of said main body-portion 11 is provided with a longitudinally extending locking or holding rib 17, preferably stamped up out of the main-body portion 11. In like manner, the said main body-portion 11 is provided with a pair of laterally extending locking or holding ribs 1S, extending from a point on each side of said rib 17 to the respective outer edges of said main body-portion 11. 1n order to secure the said cutting blade in the handle member, the ribbed end of said main body-portion .11 is inserted between the jawmembers 6 and 7 of the said handle-portion 2, in such a manner, so that the holding or locking ribs 17 and 18 of the main bodyportion 11 are opposed to the grooves or channels 9 and 10 of the said jaw-member 7. The said jaw-members 6 and 7 are then closed upon the said main body-portion 11 so that the respective ribs 17 and 1S thereof enter into and are firmly engaged by the grooves 9 and 10 of the jaw-member 7. The binding ferrule or runner 8 is then slipped along the spring-arms d and 5 until it passes` around the jaw-members G and 7 and firmly presses them in binding or holding contact with the said main body-portion 11 of said cutting-blade. lt will thus be seen tht the ribs 17 and 1S of the latter, being engaged bythe grooves or channels 9 and 10 of the jaw-member 7, prevent any lateral or longitudinal movement of the cutting-blade with relation to the said handle-member, and securely lock or retain it in its operative relation thereto. It will be clearly evident that the arrangement or configuration of the said ribs upon said cutting blade and the corresponding grooves or channels in the jaw-member of said handle-portion may be the subject of a great variety of forms and arrangement, without departing from the scope or principles of the present invention.

@SSAT/ft it will. 'also be evident that/the said ribs 'irlay be substituted for the grooves upon said j awmember, and grooves for said ribs upon said cutting blade, or a combination of both ribs and grooves on both jaw members and cutting-blade may lbe made, without departing from the scope of the present invention or the vprinciple thereof.

In making use of said ripping device for cutting open the seams of two pieces of material or such other use to which it may be applied, the threads of the seam are first cut for a slight distance by the knife-edge 12. into the opening thus formed is inserted the guide-member 14 unt-il the cutting-edge 16 of the ripping-blade 15 is brought in contact with the threads of said seam. The device is then simply pressed forward so that the threads are cut away and will part on each side of the ripping-blade 15, the guidemember 14 carrying out its guiding function during the operation.

From the above description it will be clearly evident, that l have produced a novel construction of ripping device, in which the cutting blades are removable and hence may be replace-d by new blades when worn, dulled or otherwise injured, without the necessity of throwing away the whole device or the,

handle-portion thereof, which may be used over and over again.

' l claim :W

1. As a new article of manufacture, a seam ripper comprising a handle consisting of a strip of metal doubled upon itself and provided with a pair of gripping portions, one of said gripping portions being formed at its end with a longitudinally extending receiving depression and with a laterally extending receiving depression crossing said longitudinally extending receiving depression, a combined ripping and cutting bla-de, said blade being provided with a longitudinally extending raised portion adapted to register with said longitudinally extending receiving depression, and with a laterally extending raised portion adapted to register with said laterally extending receiving depression, and means connected with said handle for forcing said gripping portions of the handle in retaining engagement with said ripping and cutting blade, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. is a new article of manufacture, a seam ripper comprising a handle consisting of a strip of metal doubled upon itself and provided with a pair of gripping portions, one of said gripping portions being formed at its end with a longitudinally extending receiving depression and with a laterally extending receiving depression crossing said longitudinally extending receiving depression, a combined ripping and cutting blade, said blade being provided with a longitudiessaya. s

nall'y extending raised portion adapted to register with said longitudinally extending receiving depression, and With a laterally extending raised portion adapted to register 5"' With said laterally extending receiving depression, and a ferrule slidably arranged upon said handle for forcing said gripping portions of the handle in retaining engagement With said ripping and cutting blade,

In testimony, that claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of November, 1908.

GEORGE E. POST. Witnesses:

GEORGE D. RICHARDS, FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL. 

